Getting lost seems to be my forte these days. The Pearson Room is a couple of minute’s stroll from Canary Wharf station, but I somehow managed to make the journey there an excruciatingly long one. With one hangry brother from across the pond by my side, I ventured to the restaurant and promised him that all these torturous wrong turns 'would be worth it in the end’.
The Venue & Atmosphere
Once we had got settled into our surroundings after finding the mysterious elevator to the restaurant that lies above Waitrose, I finally began to relax and clock The Pearson Room's warm and friendly character. A bar with a dazzling selection of dangling glasses is visible as you exit the elevator, and floor to ceiling windows encourage natural light to fill the venue. Being taken away from the front of the venue, where a suited and booted crowd congregated for after work drinks, we were seated in the middle of the restaurant where it was a bit quieter.
Compared to the front of the venue - where stand-alone tables clouded the space - tanned leather seating lined the wall and statement lighting fixtures hung low over a collection of tables. Giving a nod to contemporary interiors, large funky bookcases filled with books (shocker) and ornaments separated the long room into cosy corners. Although the space we were seated at mainly catered to diners, comfy and oversized seating can be found by the window; they overlook London’s tall buildings and are ideal for a couple of cheeky intimate drinks. As time ticked on, the after work crowd that preoccupied the bar area trickled out the door to leave diners like ourselves to our own devices. But if you’re well versed with Canary Wharf, this isn’t a huge shock as it’s one of the largest financial areas in London. Still busy and carrying a bit of a buzz, it didn’t put a damper on our experience.
Cosy corners and contemporary decor merge together to offer a cosy plot in Canary Wharf.
Food and Drink
Like any good catch-up, our Friday night meal kick-started with a round of cocktails. Being a gin aficionado, I ordered the berry sloe day £9.50. This easy drinking mix contained Bombay Sapphire and Plymouth sloe gin mixed with Casa Mariol Vermut Blanc, fresh raspberries, vanilla syrup, raspberry puree, fresh lemon juice and soda water while my brother skipped to the tropical passion £9.50. Served with fresh sprigs of mint, the exotic mix married Bacardi Carta Blanca with fresh passion fruit, pineapple juice, passion fruit syrup, fresh lime juice, topped with Passoa liqueur and soda water.
I don’t care if it’s been factually proven yet, but getting lost works up one helluva appetite. Veering away from light dishes in pursuit of heavy-on-the-hips comfort food, we ordered a portion of buffalo chicken wings £5 and the sausage roll with chestnut and cranberry sauce £5. The wings were tossed in a tangy sauce and there was a decent amount of meat to be torn away from the bone, but the blue cheese dip accompanying the starter was quite bland - disappointing considering the two go so well together. The sausage roll on the other hand was a meaty masterpiece. Coming out wrapped in golden pastry and cut into thick slices, it was perfectly seasoned and the sauce accompanying it satisfyingly sweet.
Cocktails at The Pearson Room are gracious and well thought out.
Arguing for a short time over the best choice for mains, my brother settled on the chicken Thai green curry with jasmine rice £16.50 and I, on the ale battered fish and chips with mushy peas £17.50. Only managing to sample a forkful of the curry, I gave it a big thumbs up as the sauce warmed my tongue with blasts of spicy heat. My fish came enveloped in a thick crispy batter that had a surprising sweet taste to it, and the fish lurking beneath was flaky and fresh with the chips coming triple cooked and chunky.
From New York cheesecake to crème brûlée, the dessert selection at The Pearson Room had great variety, but being defeated on our comfort food mission, we opted for a liquid dessert to end our meal. Seeing that the base used in this particular cocktail was Woodford Reserve, I took to the bacon and smoked tea old fashioned £10 like a duck to water. It came served in a highball glass with a large block of ice and the flavours used rounded the overall taste of the drink. Growing up with a grandmother who would dip our soothers in Baileys, my brother, needless to say, has developed a fondness for the stuff over the years. Which meant he had no qualms when ordering the after eight £8.50. This guilty pleasure drink mixed cacao nibs infused Finlandia vodka with Bailey's, Creme de Menthe and Mozart White Chocolate Liqueur.
The food at The Pearson Rooms is focuses on delivering comfort nosh with lots of flavour.
Summary
Although it wasn’t easy to locate, The Pearson Room managed to cure by brother of his hanger, and that my friend, deserves a small applaud. The presentation all the way from drinks to the food menu was flawless and the atmosphere was spot on for our overdue catch up.
